28 Dec - Finally... Doha!

Everything was in a blur for me when we got off the plane, partly due to the lack of sleep and the uneventful flight.

After a bus ride from the plane, some Games officials spotted our Asian Games luggage tags and led us to the Asian Games terminal. Right after we cleared custom, (the stamp was coloured) we had our accreditation passes done on the spot.

Biao shu was already looking at home already, getting friendly with the locals, while some of us were struggling to stay awake as we looked for our passports and visas.

Making our way to the exit, Biao shu and Kiok were trying to locate the drivers who were supposed to pick us up. In the end, Alvin took Jusri’s advice and we headed towards the bus arranged by the Games organisers to bring us to our accommodation towers.

We arrived at Tower P07 and unloaded everything as Biao Shu has heard from someone at the airport that our accommodation has been shifted from P09 to P07. We found a cosy corner to sit while Alvin went to check with the reception. We said goodbye to Brian Richmond as he and John Burgess were staying there.

After much mayhem, it was confirmed that our accommodation remained unchanged and whoever that told us the information has made a mistake. Struggling with language problems, we somehow managed to get the bellboys to load our luggage back onto the bus and off we went to P9. More chaos continued as Biao shu constantly bugged Kiok to find our drivers. So instead of handling the checking-in for us, she went outside with Biao shu, leaving me to settle the accommodation arrangements.

Without thinking, as my mind was clouded due to the lack of sleep, I handed out all the keys. Wendy exclaimed that each of us shouldn't have our own keys as we were supposed to share rooms. After another 10 minutes of trying to explain the situation with the receptionist, Alvin made the decision for everyone to go up to our rooms first. Soon, we realised that there was a big mixed-up. Wendy and I decided to take my apartment and have one room each. While Kiok and Vivian will share an apartment.

After a quick shower and hasty breakfast, we sat around the hotel lobby, as we waitedfor our drivers to pick us up for our first visit to the IBC. It turned out to be a longer wait than expected. We soon fell asleep on the sofas at the lobby. Even Biao shu slept! As the two cars could only take four persons at the same time, the drivers had to make like two trips each, and given the traffic congestions, the 15 minutes round trip became 30 minutes.

More chaos followed at the IBC. Instead of having the equipment all set up and ready for us, our booth was in a huge mess with cables lying all over the place. The ship was delayed and the cargo arrived only at 3am that morning. So Prem, Ghandi, Dollah, and I went recce at the various games venues, and Kiok, Vivian and Wendy went back to P9 to settle our accommodation. I started to worry about having to share a bed with who as my room has a double bed.

Our first stop was to the Doha Sailing Club. The smell of the sea only hit us when we were by the seaside. Our sailors were already having fun there. The sea breeze did clear my mind for a bit. We hang around as Prem made filming arrangements .

Our next stop was the Khalifa Stadium. It was built for these games and the organisers were still getting ready for the opening ceremony. “WHOA!” is the only word that went on in my mind when we arrived. The walk towards the stadium reaffirmed that this is what I want and where I belong. This could turn out to be the twist to the wrong beginnings we had for this Games.

Back at Rm 1909, Kiok told me I would be sharing room with her. Reason being that Wendy won't have to move again, and Vivian toss and turn a lot in her sleep. Oh well, I was too tired to think and dropped to sleep while Vivian and Kiok ventured out with Alvin for dinner.